Guns you'd swear by

generic · 12-27-2009, 05:52 PM

I'm trying to find a quality pistol (semi-auto if possible) as a primary personal defense weapon. I'm not so concerned about price as I am the quality of the weapon. The kind of last defense weapon you'd want in a SHTF situation.

I've been eyeballing the H&K Mark23 because it's the civilian model of the US special forces handgun of choice. But from reading the forums I notice a lot of people's sigs mention the 1911 (some with near reverence).

But I'm still too new to guns to be a very good judge of quality/dependability, and I can't trust advertising to be honest, so I thought I'd ask you all what you'd stake your lives on.

(And just to note: I do intend to take the advice of a lot of you in here and get some type of light .22 pistol first to train on, But a .22 isn't what I want to have on me if the worst happens.)

**hunter Joe** · 12-27-2009, 05:57 PM

IMO a revolver is the most dependable action.

**skullcrusher** · 12-27-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter Joe

IMO a revolver is the most dependable action.

+1 Joe, quoted for truth.

**CA357** · 12-27-2009, 06:51 PM

The revolver is pretty much the never fail handgun. But like all machinery, it can fail as well. The idea is to stack the odds in your favor.

The reverence you see about the 1911 is deserved, but some may take some tuning or tweaking to be perfect. It is a 100+ year old design that has stood the test of time. There are other pistol designs out there that are just as good, if not better. But there is no pistol like a 1911.

**General_lee** · 12-27-2009, 07:19 PM

The 1911 is a great pistol, they feel great in my hand, the single action trigger is sweet and atleast with the steel frame, theres not much recoil.
Having said that, the only drawback to a 1911 that I can think of is most only hold 7 or 8 rounds, although 10 rd mags are available.
I'm not really worried about ammo capacity as i carry mine in a shoulder rig with three 8 rd mags.
If the 1911 isn't your thing and you want more ammo capacity, then I would recommend something like a Springfield XD .45...14 rounds of pure .45 stopping power.
Recoil will be a little more with the polymer framed XD, but still not bad.

jimbobpissypants · 12-27-2009, 07:39 PM

I agree that a quality revolver is the most reliable and idiot proof. The disadvantage to a revolver is capacity.
Of my personal handguns, I would choose: Any one of my Sigs, or my Colt Defender. I have had no issues from these guns, and consider them extremely reliable.

gilfo · 12-27-2009, 07:47 PM

I swear by my 2 CZ's. Rami sub compact and 75 Compact. I also think Glocks are sure thing.

**hillbilly68** · 12-27-2009, 08:48 PM

Kimber 1911 if you are looking for a pistol. Ruger GP 100 if you want an absolutely bomb proof revolver (although not a great choice for CCW unless you are built like bigfoot).

**BILLYBOB44** · 12-27-2009, 09:00 PM

In a wheel gun- S&W L frame/Ruger GP-100. In a semi-auto-NAME brand 1911 in .45acp.== I have trusted my life to both designs.

**Shihan** · 12-27-2009, 09:04 PM

Consensus so far Ruger GP100. Now go out and get one.

12-27-2009, 05:52 PM	#1
generic Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 21	Guns you'd swear by I'm trying to find a quality pistol (semi-auto if possible) as a primary personal defense weapon. I'm not so concerned about price as I am the quality of the weapon. The kind of last defense weapon you'd want in a SHTF situation. I've been eyeballing the H&K Mark23 because it's the civilian model of the US special forces handgun of choice. But from reading the forums I notice a lot of people's sigs mention the 1911 (some with near reverence). But I'm still too new to guns to be a very good judge of quality/dependability, and I can't trust advertising to be honest, so I thought I'd ask you all what you'd stake your lives on. (And just to note: I do intend to take the advice of a lot of you in here and get some type of light .22 pistol first to train on, But a .22 isn't what I want to have on me if the worst happens.) __________________ Comments are purely my opinion unless otherwise stated.

12-27-2009, 05:57 PM	#2
hunter Joe Supporting Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: America and Proud Of It Posts: 1,776	IMO a revolver is the most dependable action. __________________ God, Family, Guns, in that order.

12-27-2009, 06:51 PM	#4
CA357 Long Live the Republic! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 9,050	The revolver is pretty much the never fail handgun. But like all machinery, it can fail as well. The idea is to stack the odds in your favor. The reverence you see about the 1911 is deserved, but some may take some tuning or tweaking to be perfect. It is a 100+ year old design that has stood the test of time. There are other pistol designs out there that are just as good, if not better. But there is no pistol like a 1911. __________________ ..."That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants.” – Jeff Cooper's Commentaries, Vol. 2, No. 5, May 1994 If you're not mad as Hell, you're not paying attention. ΜΟΛ'ΩΝ ΛΑΒ'Ε

12-27-2009, 08:48 PM	#8
hillbilly68 Supporting Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Back home...for now Posts: 1,031	Kimber 1911 if you are looking for a pistol. Ruger GP 100 if you want an absolutely bomb proof revolver (although not a great choice for CCW unless you are built like bigfoot). __________________ ________________________________________ "I'm your brother, just make it count."

12-27-2009, 09:00 PM	#9
BILLYBOB44 Outdoor Sportsman Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CENTRAL INDIANA Posts: 1,202	Both are good. In a wheel gun- S&W L frame/Ruger GP-100. In a semi-auto-NAME brand 1911 in .45acp.== I have trusted my life to both designs. __________________ NRA Life MEMBER 1976

12-27-2009, 07:19 PM	#5
General_lee Tarja Turunen Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lumpkin, GA Posts: 508	The 1911 is a great pistol, they feel great in my hand, the single action trigger is sweet and atleast with the steel frame, theres not much recoil. Having said that, the only drawback to a 1911 that I can think of is most only hold 7 or 8 rounds, although 10 rd mags are available. I'm not really worried about ammo capacity as i carry mine in a shoulder rig with three 8 rd mags. If the 1911 isn't your thing and you want more ammo capacity, then I would recommend something like a Springfield XD .45...14 rounds of pure .45 stopping power. Recoil will be a little more with the polymer framed XD, but still not bad.

12-27-2009, 07:39 PM	#6
jimbobpissypants Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: York, Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 181	I agree that a quality revolver is the most reliable and idiot proof. The disadvantage to a revolver is capacity. Of my personal handguns, I would choose: Any one of my Sigs, or my Colt Defender. I have had no issues from these guns, and consider them extremely reliable.

12-27-2009, 07:47 PM	#7
gilfo Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 34	I swear by my 2 CZ's. Rami sub compact and 75 Compact. I also think Glocks are sure thing.

12-27-2009, 09:04 PM	#10
Shihan I'M TELLING YOU! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,198	Consensus so far Ruger GP100. Now go out and get one. __________________ "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

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